California Baptist University
UC San Diego
KING TRITONS
9/2/2011 3:16:00 AM | Men's Soccer
RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- UC San Diego's Adam Zernik scored on a direct free kick in the 44th minute to break a 1-1 tie, and the Tritons made it stand in a 2-1 win over California Baptist University in both team's season openers Thursday afternoon.
The loss snaps the Lancers' six-game unbeaten streak in season openers, and it is their first season-opening loss in four years under Head Coach Ryan Jorden.
"It's a disappointing result based on the chances we created in the first half," said Jorden, who led the Lancers to a program-record 15 wins last year. "We didn't play too smart, and we put ourselves in a position where we had to play from behind."
Zernik's winner came from about 25 yards out as he bent a free kick around the Lancer wall and past a diving Joey Pacheco. All three of the game's goals were scored in a 13 minute span.
The Tritons struck first in the 31st minute when Gavin Lamming punched in a ball off a corner kick. Cory Wolfrom flicked Alex Portela's corner kick to Lamming, who placed it past Pacheco.
That lead was short-lived, however, as less than two minutes later, Willie Rupert converted a penalty kick after Osvaldo Bastida was taken down in the box as he weaved his way through the Triton defense.
The game stayed tied for just 11 minutes.
"Against organized, well-coached teams, if you don't put your chances away, then you will find yourself playing from behind. We did that twice today, and playing from behind is hard to do. We didn't do the things that we needed to do to be successful."
Indeed, the Lancers had a handful of chances early. They took six of the game's first eight shots, and had their best moment come in the ninth minute when Alex Anderson's header banged off the crossbar.
The Lancers outshot the Tritons, 15-12, in the game.
With the loss, the Lancers fall to 0-1, while the Tritons improve to 1-0.
"This was an education experience if we learn and grow from this," said Jorden. "Hopefully a loss like this allows the guys to hear us a little more clearly every day in practice from here on out. There's still a lot of season left."
CBU travels to perennial national-power and 2008 NCAA Division II National Champion Cal State Dominguez Hills Saturday for a 4:30 p.m. kickoff.
